After a long wait, Canada's AI strategy has arrived — a document that encourages people to learn and adopt the technology in the hopes of creating 250,000 new jobs. Host Catherine Cullen speaks with AI experts and skeptics Jake Hirsch-Allen, Kristen Thomasen and Hamish van der Ven about what it means for employment, children’s safety and the environment. Then, Minister of AI Evan Solomon joins the program to explain why Canadians need to understand this technology despite their low trust in it.

Plus, there seemed to be a little bit of movement in trade negotiations with the United States this week – despite more trolling from President Trump about Canada becoming the 51st state. Lisa Raitt is on the advisory committee on Canada-U.S. economic relations and tells The House what progress has been made as the July 1st deadline inches closer. 

And, in a wide ranging exit interview at Rideau Hall, outgoing Governor General Mary Simon tells Catherine Cullen why she wasn’t sure she would be able to finish her five years in the role and reflects on how Canada is doing on reconciliation and national unity.  

This episode features the voices of:

• Sumaiya Ahmed, librarian at the Toronto Public Library
• Prachi Salvi, director and marketing consultant
• Jake Hirsch-Allen, director of partnerships at The Dais
• Hamish van der Ven, associate professor at the University of British Columbia
• Kristen Thomasen, chair in Law, Robotics, and Society at the University of Windsor
• Evan Solomon, Minister of AI
• Lisa Raitt, member of the Advisory Committee on Canada–U.S. Economic Relations
• Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada